The Network of Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratories of the Americas began as the Dengue Laboratory Network of the Americas in 2008. Its main objective was to strengthen scientific and technical capacities, as well as establish standardized laboratory protocols for dengue diagnosis. This approach included the implementation of an action framework in participating countries to introduce a regional research agenda and a quality management system in the involved laboratories. Furthermore, it sought to integrate the available scientific and technical capacities in the region to ensure a timely response to dengue outbreaks, epidemics, and regional contingencies.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the activities of the Network of Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratories of the Americas. During this period, the region has witnessed significant advancements in surveillance, response, and control of arbovirus-related diseases. Given the epidemiological situation in the Americas, with the introduction of chikungunya since 2013 and Zika since 2015, along with the ongoing challenge presented by dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, and other arboviruses, there is a need to expand the network beyond dengue. The continuous strengthening of the Network will allow for addressing the new challenges posed by these arboviruses, as well as others that may be imported or emerge in the future.
This new focus of the laboratory network has been developed to address the introduction and re-emergence of arboviral diseases such as chikungunya, Zika, and West Nile virus, which are currently circulating in the region alongside dengue. The main objective of the network is to ensure efficient laboratory surveillance and a robust capacity to respond to outbreaks and epidemics.
In 2016, the CD 55.R6 resolution "Strategy for Arboviral Disease Prevention and Control" was approved by the Directing Council as an instrument to operationalize technical cooperation on arboviruses. The Arbovirus EGI has four strategic lines of action, with Line of Action 3 corresponding to RELDA as the operational arm of the laboratory component of this strategy.
Here, you will find detailed information about the network's activities, as well as its main objectives and achievements. Valuable resources are also shared, such as updated detection guidelines and methodologies, as well as a platform for Genomic Surveillance of Arboviruses (ViGenDa) and Entomo-virological Laboratory Network (RELEVA).
Collaborating Centers & Members Laboratories Map
Thematic networks
- Course on Quality Management and Good Laboratory Practices for Arboviruses. (2019) Only in Spanish
- Only in Spanish
- Laboratory Guidelines for the Detection and Diagnosis of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus Human Infection- December 2023
- Technical note Algorithm for laboratory confirmation of dengue cases - December 2023
- Course on Quality Management and Good Laboratory Practices for Arboviruses (2019) Only in spanish
- Laboratory Diagnosis of Yellow Fever Virus infection (September 2018)
- Dengue: guidelines for patient care in the Region of the Americas. (2. ed.; 2016)
- Preparedness and Response for Introduction of Chikungunya in the Americas (2011)
- Dengue: Guidelines for Patient Care in the Region of the Americas (2010)
- Real-time RT-PCR (TaqMan鈩) protocol - Yellow fever virus (YFV)
- Real-time RT-PCR (TaqManTM) protocol - Mayaro virus (MAYV)
- Real-time RT-PCR (TaqMan鈩) protocolo - Zika virus (ZIKV)
- Real-time RT-PCR protocol - Mayaro (MAYV) and Oropouche virus (OROV) duplex
- CDC DENV 1-4 Real Time RT-PCR Assay for Detection and Serotype Identification of Dengue Virus
- Trioplex Real-time RT-PCR Assay
Argentina
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas (INEVH)
Address: Monteagudo 2510, 2700 - Pergamino, Argentina.
Contact: Dra. Maria Alejandra Morales
Director of INEVH: Dra. Delia Enria
Bolivia
Name of Laboratory: Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP)
Address: Av 26 de Febrero Esq. Av Centenario, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Contact: Roxana Loayza
Director of CENETROP: Dra. Yelin Roca Sanchez
Brazil
Para, Brazil:
Name of Laboratory: Instituto Evandro Chagas
Address: Rodovia BR-316 km 7 s/n - Levil芒ndia - 67030-000 - Ananindeua, Par谩, Brasil
Contact: Dr. Pedro Vasconcelos
Recife, Brazil
Name of the Laboratory: Fiocruz - Funda莽茫o Oswaldo Cruz
Address: Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalh茫es, Av. Moraes Rego S/N, Campus da UFPE, Cidade Universit谩ria, Recife-PE, Brasil, CEP: 50740-465
Contact: Dr Rafael Freitas de Oliveira Fran莽a
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Name of the Laboratory: Fiocruz - Funda莽茫o Oswaldo Cruz
Address: Av. Brasil - 4365 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil CEP 22061-040 (Pav. Helio & Peggy Pereira - 1 andar)
Contact: Dra. Ana Bispo de Filippis
Paran谩, Brazil
Name of the Laboratory: Fiocruz - Funda莽茫o Oswaldo Cruz (Carlos Chagas Institute)
Address: Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3.775 - CIC, Curitiba, PR, CEP 81.350-010 (Tecpar campus)
Contact: Dra Claudia Dos Santos
S茫o Paulo, Brazil
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Adolfo Lutz
Address: N煤cleo de Doen莽as de Transmiss茫o Vetorial, Centro de Virologia - Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av.Dr.Arnaldo 355, S茫o Paulo,SP, Brasil, CEP: 01246-000
Contact: Dr. Renato Pereira de Souza (Investigador Cient铆fico V, Director T茅cnico)
Chile
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto de Salud Publica (ISP)
Address: Av. Marathon 1000, 脩u帽oa, Santiago, Casilla 48 Correo Central, C贸digo Postal 7780050
Contact: Sr. Elizar Villagra
Colombia
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS)
Address: Avenida calle 26 No. 51-20 - Zona 6 CAN. Bogot谩, D.C
Contact: Lissethe Carolina Pardo Herrera
Costa Rica
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Costarricense de Investigaci贸n y Ense帽anza en Nutrici贸n y Salud (INCIENSA)
Address: Apartado 4-2250, Tres R铆os, Cartago, Costa Rica
Contact: Dra. Elizabeth Saenz
Cuba
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Pedro Kour铆 (IPK)
Address: Autopista Novia del Mediod铆a, KM 6 1/2, La Lisa, La Habana, 11400, Cuba
Contact: Dra. Maria Guadalupe Guzman
General Director: Dr. Jorge P茅rez Avila
Dominican Republic
Name of Laboratory: Laboratorio de Virolog铆a del Laboratorio Nacional de Salud P煤blica Dr. Defill贸 (LNSPDD)
Address: Santo Tomas de Aquino 1, Cuidad Universitaria, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana, Zip 10105
Contact: Raquel Pimentel
Ecuador
Name of Laboratory: Instituto Nacional de Investigaci贸n en Salud P煤blica (INSPI)
Address: Juli谩n Coronel 905 entre Esmeraldas y Jos茅 Mascote, C贸digo postal 090514
Contact: Dra. Mary Regato
El Salvador
Name of Laboratory: Laboratorio Central Dr. Max Bloch
Address: Alameda Roosevelt, Edificio Max Bloch, contiguo a Hospital Rosales, San Salvador, El Salvador C.A.
Contact: Monica Barahona
Guatemala
Name of Laboratory: Laboratorio Nacional de Salud (LNS)
Adddress: Km. 22 carretera al Pac铆fico, Barcena, Villa Nueva, Guatemala C.A
Contact: Leticia Del Carmen Castillo Signor
Guayana Francesa
Name of Laboratory: Institute Pasteur
Address: 23 Avenue Pasteur, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne Cedex
Contact: Dominique Rousset, MD, PhD
Haiti
Name of Laboratory: Laboratoire National de Sant茅 Publique
Address: 2, rue Chardonnieres, Delmas 33, A cote de l'Hopital La Paix, Port au Prince, Haiti
Contact: Dr. Ito Journel
Honduras
Name of Laboratory: Laboratorio Nacional de Vigilancia de la Salud (LNVS)
Address: Colonia La Campa帽a, Primera entrada Contigua al port贸n de maternidad del Hospital General San Felipe, Tegucigalpa Honduras Centro Am茅rica
Contact: Dra. Sofia Carolina Alvarado
Chief of the Virology Laboratory: Dra. Dina Jeaneth Castro
Jamaica
Name of the Laboratory: Arbovirus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of West Indies
Address: The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies
Contact: Dr. Ivan Vickers
Mexico
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto de Diagn贸stico y Referencia Epidemiol贸gicos (InDRE)
Address: Francisco de P. Miranda #177, Col. Unidad Lomas de Plateros Deleg. 脕lvaro Obreg贸n
Ciudad de M茅xico CP. 01480
Contact: Mauricio Vazquez Pichardo (Chief of the Arbovirus and Hemorragic Virus Laboratory); Belen Torres
Nicaragua
Name of the Laboratory: Centro Nacional de Diagnostico y Referencia, Departamento de Virolog铆a (CNDR)
Address: Costado Oeste Colonia Primero de Mayo. Managua, Nicaragua Sector Postal: 15AB, Apartado Postal:107
Contact: Dr. Angel Balmaseda
笔补苍补尘谩
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES)
Address: Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35 Apartado Postal No. 0816-02593
笔补苍补尘谩, Rep煤blica de 笔补苍补尘谩
Contact: Brechla Moreno
Paraguay
Name of the Laboratory: Laboratorio Central de Salud P煤blica (LCSP)
Address: Avenida Venezuela y Tte. Escurra, Asunci贸n, Paraguay
Contact: Cynthia Vazquez
笔别谤煤
Name of the Laboratory: Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS)
Address: Av. Defensores del Morro 2268 (Ex Huaylas) Chorrillos, Lima 9
Contact: Mar铆a Paquita Garc铆a Mendoza
Puerto Rico, United States
Name of the Laboratory: CDC - Puerto Rico
Address: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, 1324 Calle Ca帽ada, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00920-3860
Contact: Dr. Jorge Mu帽oz
Suriname
Name of the Laboratory: Academic Hospital Paramaribo
Address: Flustreet 1, Paramaribo, Suriname
Contact: Jimmy Roosblad
Trinidad and Tobago
Name of the Laboratory: Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
Address: 16-18 Jamaica Blvd, Federation Park, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Contact: Dra. Arlene Darmanie
Uruguay
Name of the Laboratory: Departamento de Laboratorio de Salud P煤blica (DLSP)
Address: Avda. Alfredo Navarro 3051, acceso Norte, CP 11600, Montevideo - Uruguay
Contact: Dr. Hector Chiparelli
Colorado, United States
Name of the Laboratory: CDC- Fort Collins
Address: Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 3150 Rampart Road (CSU Foothills Campus), Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
Contact: Dr. Robert Lanciotti
Venezuela
Nombre del Laboratorio: Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel (INHRR)
Direcci贸n: Ciudad Universitaria UCV, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, Rep煤blica Bolivariana de Venezuela. Cod. 1041.
Referente: Julio Zambrano
Highlights
14th Annual Meeting - RELDA
15 - 17 August, 2023 - Dominican Republic
The objectives for this year's meeting are as follows:
- Presentation of the current situation and challenges faced by laboratory surveillance of the main Arboviruses in the region.
- Review and update of detection guidelines and methodologies for laboratory surveillance.
- Presentation of entomo-virological surveillance guidelines.
- Discussion of the work plan and relevant activities for the period 2023-2025.
More information PRESS RELEASE
Highlight Publication
This publication provides technical recommendations for public health laboratories involved in the diagnosis and surveillance of arboviruses. It includes the most useful types of samples for diagnosing infections, lists the minimum clinical data sets for labeling and analyzing samples, and describes best practices for sample processing and handling, along with recommended workflows and biosafety considerations. (only available in Spanish).
Arbovirus Diagnosis Laboratory Network of the Americas (RELDA) Timeline